OK Walk-in Constant Temperature & Humidity Chamber OK-STH-12.4m²

Overview

The OK Walk-in Constant Temperature & Humidity Chamber OK-STH-12.4m² is an industrial-grade environmental simulation system engineered for system-level reliability validation under controlled thermal and hygrothermal conditions. Designed around the fundamental principles of convective heat and mass transfer, it maintains precise, stable, and spatially uniform temperature (±1°C control accuracy) and relative humidity (20–98% RH, ±3% RH accuracy) across its 12.4 m² internal floor area and 12 m³ usable volume. Its walk-in architecture—featuring a reinforced structural frame, modular insulated panels, and a large access door—enables direct human entry for installation, cabling, instrumentation, and in-situ monitoring of full-scale test articles. Unlike benchtop or upright chambers, this chamber operates as a climate-controlled room, supporting dynamic testing protocols including steady-state exposure, cyclic temperature/humidity profiles, and long-duration aging per IEC 60068-2, MIL-STD-810, and ISO 16750-4 requirements.

Key Features

• Modular double-wall construction using 100 mm thick high-density polyurethane (PU) insulated panels, providing thermal resistance (R-value) ≥ 3.5 m²·K/W and minimizing heat leakage during extreme low-temperature operation.
• Cascade refrigeration system with dual independent compressor stages (high- and low-temperature circuits), enabling stable operation down to −70°C without reliance on cryogenic fluids.
• High-capacity air handling unit with backward-curved centrifugal fans and precision-engineered air distribution ducts, ensuring temperature uniformity ≤ ±3°C and humidity homogeneity ≤ ±5% RH across the entire test volume.
• Industrial PLC-based control system with 10.4″ color touchscreen HMI, supporting up to 99 programmable steps per profile, ramp/soak logic, real-time trend display, and automatic fault logging.
• Integrated safety architecture including over-temperature cut-off, refrigerant high-pressure protection, door interlock, condensate overflow detection, and emergency power-off (EPO) interface compliant with IEC 61000-6-2 EMC standards.
• Standard 300 mm diameter cable/port access sleeves (with silicone gaskets), configurable for thermocouple feedthroughs, power feeds, and optical/data lines while maintaining environmental integrity.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The OK-STH-12.4m² accommodates full-system and large-format test specimens—including electric vehicles (EVs), battery energy storage systems (BESS), aerospace avionics racks, telecom server cabinets, and photovoltaic inverters—without disassembly. Its internal clearance allows for overhead crane access, mobile test benches, and permanent fixture mounting. The chamber meets structural and operational requirements outlined in ASTM E145 (Standard Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-Ventilation Ovens), ISO 2856 (Environmental testing — Guidance for selection and use of test chambers), and GB/T 10586 (Chinese national standard for environmental test chambers). Optional validation packages support IQ/OQ documentation per GMP Annex 15 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic records when paired with OK’s certified data acquisition module.

Software & Data Management

The embedded controller supports local SD-card logging (100,000+ data points) and optional Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP connectivity for integration into enterprise SCADA or MES platforms. OK’s proprietary ChamberLink™ software (Windows-based, license-free) enables remote monitoring, multi-chamber synchronization, automated report generation (PDF/CSV), and user-access-level management (admin/operator/viewer). All logged parameters—including chamber setpoints, actual sensor readings (PT100 RTDs ×6, capacitive RH sensors ×3), compressor status, and alarm history—are time-stamped with microsecond resolution and retain full audit trail metadata (user ID, timestamp, action type) to satisfy GLP and ISO/IEC 17025 traceability requirements.

Applications

• Automotive: Whole-vehicle cold-start validation at −40°C; HVAC performance mapping across 20–98% RH; battery thermal runaway propagation studies under combined thermal-hygric stress.
• Aerospace: Environmental qualification of flight-critical avionics enclosures per DO-160 Section 4 (Temperature) and Section 5 (Humidity); ground support equipment thermal soak testing.
• Energy Storage: UL 9540A-compliant cell/module/pack thermal propagation testing; BESS cabinet cycling from −20°C to 55°C at 95% RH to assess condensation-induced corrosion.
• Telecom & Data Centers: Thermal management validation of 19″ rack-mounted hardware under sustained 40°C/95% RH load conditions simulating tropical deployment environments.
• Electronics Manufacturing: High-volume HALT/HASS screening of PCB assemblies and power converters using accelerated humidity soak and temperature ramp profiles.

FAQ

What is the maximum allowable heat load generated by test samples inside the chamber?
The chamber’s cooling capacity is sized based on specified temperature range and internal volume. For accurate sizing, users must provide expected sample power dissipation (in kW) and thermal mass. OK performs thermal load analysis prior to final configuration to ensure net cooling margin ≥ 15% at worst-case operating points.
Can the chamber be configured for rapid temperature transitions (e.g., >5°C/min)?
The standard OK-STH-12.4m² achieves 1.0–4.0°C/min heating rates. For higher ramp rates (up to 10°C/min), OK offers the ST-HV variant with enhanced heater banks, oversized refrigeration, and adaptive PID tuning—subject to additional structural reinforcement and electrical supply upgrades.
Is on-site installation and commissioning included?
Yes. All walk-in chambers are supplied as pre-fabricated modules and installed by OK-certified field engineers. Commissioning includes thermal mapping (per ISO 17025-accredited protocol), sensor calibration verification, safety function validation, and operator training.
Does the system support third-party data acquisition or SCADA integration?
Yes. Native Modbus TCP and OPC UA (via optional gateway) interfaces enable bidirectional communication with LabVIEW, Ignition, Siemens Desigo, or Rockwell FactoryTalk systems. All I/O points—including alarms, setpoints, and sensor values—are mapped to standard register addresses.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for long-term reliability?
Compressor oil analysis and refrigerant charge verification every 12 months; PU panel seal inspection and door gasket replacement every 24 months; air filter cleaning every 3 months; annual calibration of all PT100 and RH sensors against NIST-traceable references.